Otis Sanford: Common ground at last

The Shelby County Commission has finally accomplished something most people thought was impossible.

Thanks to a majority of commissioners, all of the warring political factions in Greater Memphis are united in utter contempt for the commission itself.

Just in the last month, the commission has provoked the wrath of every elected official in the suburbs — and most suburban residents — by suing to stop the formation of separate municipal schools.

In doing that, commissioners also stoked anger among people who post anonymous and virulent comments beneath stories on The Commercial Appeal's website.

No doubt, the newspaper's publisher is not at all thrilled with the commission either, because he's having to spend precious dollars on legal fees to fight a subpoena seeking the identities of the anonymous posters.

But commissioners did not stop there. Last week in a 7-5 vote, they flip-flopped and agreed to put a referendum on the November ballot calling for a half-cent countywide sales tax increase.

If it survives a possible mayoral veto and voters pass it, the referendum would nullify five other sales tax plans approved by suburban voters Aug. 2. It would also knock a similar tax proposal by the city of Memphis off the ballot. So, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and most of the City Council are also spitting fire at the commission.

To upset this many disparate entities at once usually takes time and tremendous political skill. But this commission, in its typical screwball fashion, did it without working up much of a sweat.

Commissioners who voted for the sales tax resolution, led by incoming chairman Mike Ritz, said the half-cent countywide increase would raise about $60 million. Roughly $30 million would be new revenue for the new unified school district; the other $30 million would be divvied up among Memphis and the suburban cities.

Under current projections, the unified school system faces a $59 million budget shortfall when the two districts officially merge next year.

But county Mayor Mark Luttrell wants the unified school board to make tough choices to significantly cut the deficit before any talk of taxes.

Shelby County now spends some $362 million for public schools. After the merger next year, state law gives the county three years to set its maintenance of effort — the minimum amount it will always allocate for schools.

So Luttrell is correct. There's no rush raise countywide sales taxes — which, says Memphis City Councilman Shea Flinn, was all about some commissioners sticking it to the suburbanites.

No wonder everyone is united in disgust for the commission. They've earned it.

Columnist Otis Sanford holds the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism at the University of Memphis. Contact him at 901-678-3669 or at o.sanford@memphis.edu.